I admit that I have a sweet tooth. Actually, as much as I like sweets, I would dare say that maybe I have a mouth full of sweet teeth…

One of my favorite things to make to satisfy all these sweet teeth, by far, has to be brownies. I love that, with a little alteration of the ingredients in my brownie recipes, I can make a rich, dense, fudge-like brownie or change things slightly for a light, airy cake-like brownie.

I also like that a brownie does not always have to be straight up chocolate. I enjoy mixing up texture, flavor and experimenting with adding different ingredients. This recipe mixes creamy peanut butter and cream cheese with a fudge brownie, coats the brownie with a rich peanut butter-chocolate ganache and then tops the peanut butter and chocolate madness with one of my favorite candies, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. This recipe, my friends, is pure peanut butter and chocolate bliss. I hope it satisfies your sweet tooth (or sweet mouth full of teeth) as it does mine.

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Using an electric mixer and a large mixing bowl, combine brownie ingredients. Mix on low for two minutes, until batter looks smooth. Transfer brownie batter into a well-greased 9x13" baking pan.
In another bowl, combine peanut butter cream cheese ribbon ingredients. Using an electric mixer, blend until smooth. Spoon ribbon ingredients over brownie batter in baking pan. Use the spoon or a butter knife to incorporate some of the ribbon ingredients to the bottom of the pan and to create the appearance of swirls of peanut butter and chocolate brownie. Place pan in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick or knife inserted into center comes out clean. Remove pan from oven and set aside to cool.

While the brownies cool, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl for the ganache and place in microwave for 45 to 60 seconds. Remove peanut butter and chocolate combination from microwave and stir. Ganache should be smooth.

While the brownies are still warm, spread the peanut butter ganache over contents of the brownie baking pan. Over the ganache, place the peanut butter cups and sprinkle the chopped peanuts. Allow brownies and ganache to cool completely before cutting.